Aside from the usual hoopla about whether Kris Bryant, who seems to hit another home run every day, will break camp with the team and whether the Cubs will carry three catchers, there has been little noteworthy coming from spring training, at least little noteworthy for those connoisseurs of Cubness. At least not until today.
Today Edwin Jackson managed to get lost on the way to the ballpark for his scheduled start against the Athletics. Unfortunately, he found his way eventually. He took the field in the second inning and proceeded to surrender eight runs in an inning and two-thirds. Jackson has been unimaginably awful throughout his stint with the Cubs. I feel sorry for him, as he was once an occasionally effective starter. The Cubs are thinking of carrying thirteen pitchers through April, which is a really bad idea in general and a positively unthinkable idea if the thirteenth is Jackson.
The Cubs have a lot of guys in camp who deserve to make the team. That includes Bryant and Castillo. So, with three catchers and thirteen pitchers, that leaves spots for only nine position players. In others words, two guys on the bench. That cannot work out well even in April, so there needs to be some rethinking there, especially as Maddon is known for mixing up his lineups.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Cubs - TV
Nice to watch a replay of the Cubs-Reds game today. Generally the Cubs pitching has looked good. Wood was pretty dominant this afternoon. Not much hitting today from either side. The game was decided early when Denorfia hit a two-run homer off Cueto.
Bryant did not play, but he has certainly been impressive thus far. Wonder what excuse the Cubs will have for not starting his free agent clock on opening day. Defense? I mean, the guy has hit a home run in every fourth at-bat and is batting nearly .500.
On the other side of the ledger, I do not see much improvement in Baez. Still the same exaggerated swing; still the same woeful results. His strikeout today was on a pitch that must have been two feet off the plate. Baez is clearly pressing. He may or may not have genuine major league ability, but it is pretty clear he is over-matched now.
Bryant did not play, but he has certainly been impressive thus far. Wonder what excuse the Cubs will have for not starting his free agent clock on opening day. Defense? I mean, the guy has hit a home run in every fourth at-bat and is batting nearly .500.
On the other side of the ledger, I do not see much improvement in Baez. Still the same exaggerated swing; still the same woeful results. His strikeout today was on a pitch that must have been two feet off the plate. Baez is clearly pressing. He may or may not have genuine major league ability, but it is pretty clear he is over-matched now.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Lolligagging
Not that these spring games mean all that much, but the Cubs have won only one game so far. Apparently, Joe Maddon had enough and went off on the team for lack of fundamental play. Kind of reminds one of Bull Durham. Poor fundamentals have been a problem for the Cubs since time immemorial and you kind of wonder how this sort of sloppiness is tolerated throughout the minor league system so that when players arrive they just do not seem to be able to consistently execute routine plays. Anyway, good for Maddon to have noticed this tendency. Here is a link to the article.
On another topic, I saw a piece about Javier Baez that made the case he needed another year in the minors. Pretty convincing arguments. I watched the clip where Soler, Baez, and Bryant hit back to back to back home runs. Pretty impressive. But if you watch Baez, even when he connects, there is just so much going on, bat waving, twitching, huge stride. It is little wonder he strikes out so often.
On another topic, I saw a piece about Javier Baez that made the case he needed another year in the minors. Pretty convincing arguments. I watched the clip where Soler, Baez, and Bryant hit back to back to back home runs. Pretty impressive. But if you watch Baez, even when he connects, there is just so much going on, bat waving, twitching, huge stride. It is little wonder he strikes out so often.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Spring Training
I have to say that thus far the news from spring training has been somewhat boring. I suppose the amusement factor that was present in previous years when the Cubs were expected to stink and certainly did not disappoint is partly responsible. Since the Cubs are expected to be pretty good, most of the news seems to confirm this conclusion. Also, from the look of it, Maddon and his staff seem to know what they are doing, which is a substantial contrast to the last three managerial regimes.
There seem to be at least three stories that have caught people's eye. One concerns the speculation about whether Bryant will be the Cubs starting third baseman on opening day. My take on this is that the whole thing boils down to how many early season games the Cubs are prepared to trade for additional control of Bryant, who looks like a superstar in the making.
Another controversy centers on the future of Welington Castillo who either has no business being in camp, is on the verge of being traded, or figures to be part of a troika at the catcher position. Personally, I have no problem with the team carrying three catchers. Castillo can hit left-handed pitching and is not that bad a defensive catcher as all that. Ross is a good handler of pitchers and a good strike-framer, but he cannot control the running game and cannot hit at all anymore. Montero is a good defensive catcher, but, offensively, he has become pretty much of a platoon player. So, all things considered, carrying two catchers means giving up three outs when Ross plays and three outs when Montero is matched against a left-hander, at least on the offensive side of the game.
The other big story is Javier Baez and whether he can figure out a way not to strike out every other turn at bat. There was an interesting take on his problems - and to a certain extent the problems of other Cubs prospects making contact on a regular basis - at the SI site. The article is by Tim Verducci and is worth a read. Apparently, the Cubs are using some innovative approaches to training their hitters in general.
The premise in the case of Baez is to try to teach him to change his approach when he is behind in the count, which is pretty much all the time. The idea is that Baez should shorten his swing and dispense with the big leg kick. So far the reports are that Baez has had some success with the new approach, although, unaccountably, it is only being used when he has two strikes. One wonders why, if it is successful, he does not use it all the time. The long swing and the big leg kick, as well as all the ticks and movement and flaws in this kid's swing, pretty much add up to failure when he sees big league pitching on an everyday basis, which is what happened at the end of last season.
There seem to be at least three stories that have caught people's eye. One concerns the speculation about whether Bryant will be the Cubs starting third baseman on opening day. My take on this is that the whole thing boils down to how many early season games the Cubs are prepared to trade for additional control of Bryant, who looks like a superstar in the making.
Another controversy centers on the future of Welington Castillo who either has no business being in camp, is on the verge of being traded, or figures to be part of a troika at the catcher position. Personally, I have no problem with the team carrying three catchers. Castillo can hit left-handed pitching and is not that bad a defensive catcher as all that. Ross is a good handler of pitchers and a good strike-framer, but he cannot control the running game and cannot hit at all anymore. Montero is a good defensive catcher, but, offensively, he has become pretty much of a platoon player. So, all things considered, carrying two catchers means giving up three outs when Ross plays and three outs when Montero is matched against a left-hander, at least on the offensive side of the game.
The other big story is Javier Baez and whether he can figure out a way not to strike out every other turn at bat. There was an interesting take on his problems - and to a certain extent the problems of other Cubs prospects making contact on a regular basis - at the SI site. The article is by Tim Verducci and is worth a read. Apparently, the Cubs are using some innovative approaches to training their hitters in general.
The premise in the case of Baez is to try to teach him to change his approach when he is behind in the count, which is pretty much all the time. The idea is that Baez should shorten his swing and dispense with the big leg kick. So far the reports are that Baez has had some success with the new approach, although, unaccountably, it is only being used when he has two strikes. One wonders why, if it is successful, he does not use it all the time. The long swing and the big leg kick, as well as all the ticks and movement and flaws in this kid's swing, pretty much add up to failure when he sees big league pitching on an everyday basis, which is what happened at the end of last season.
Monday, February 9, 2015
Cubs Miss on Shields Signing
Not sure I would lose a lot of sleep over James Shields signing with San Diego. Apparently the Cubs offer might have been for more money per year, but topped out at three years. I cannot fault the front office for this. Shields is 33 and probably a risk even at three years, certainly at four.
The Cubs are going into the season with four solid starters in Lester, Arrieta, Hendricks, and Hammel, with some healthy competition between Wada, Wood, and several others for the fifth spot.
The Cubs are going into the season with four solid starters in Lester, Arrieta, Hendricks, and Hammel, with some healthy competition between Wada, Wood, and several others for the fifth spot.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
James Shields Rumors
Word is that Shields, the only top tier free agent pitcher still on the market, will make a decision on where he will sign later this week. Some people are floating the idea the Cubs are on his shortlist. If so, it has been a stealthy business for the Cubs front office as today is the first time I have seen the rumor.
Shields is in kind of an odd box. By this time, early February and just about two weeks from the spring training report date for pitchers and catchers, most of the big names are already signed and teams in general are pretty well set. Shields was no doubt expecting something like Lester money or at least something close. However, he is 33 years old, so any team signing him for four or five years is taking a big risk.
I'm of two minds on the Cubs pursuit of Shields if in fact there is any substance to the rumors. Shields is good. There is no doubt he was a good part of the Royals resurgence last season. Were the Cubs to sign him to a one or two year deal, I would have no hesitation. Maybe that is what is in the cards. Undoubtedly signing a guy like Shields would signal the Cubs are all in for 2015.
Realistically, it is possible they are only kicking the tires here. With the acquisition of Dexter Fowler, I was not expecting any more blockbuster moves. On paper, the Cubs look to be set for a pretty good year. Right now their only major need is for a solid and reliable pair of left-handed relievers.
Shields is in kind of an odd box. By this time, early February and just about two weeks from the spring training report date for pitchers and catchers, most of the big names are already signed and teams in general are pretty well set. Shields was no doubt expecting something like Lester money or at least something close. However, he is 33 years old, so any team signing him for four or five years is taking a big risk.
I'm of two minds on the Cubs pursuit of Shields if in fact there is any substance to the rumors. Shields is good. There is no doubt he was a good part of the Royals resurgence last season. Were the Cubs to sign him to a one or two year deal, I would have no hesitation. Maybe that is what is in the cards. Undoubtedly signing a guy like Shields would signal the Cubs are all in for 2015.
Realistically, it is possible they are only kicking the tires here. With the acquisition of Dexter Fowler, I was not expecting any more blockbuster moves. On paper, the Cubs look to be set for a pretty good year. Right now their only major need is for a solid and reliable pair of left-handed relievers.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Javier Baez
Not taking sides on this issue, but from this article by J.P. Morosi of Fox Sports, things are not looking up for Baez based on his performance in the Puerto Rican Winter League. 21 Ks in 43 ABs during the regular season, 6 Ks in 9 ABs during the playoffs so far does not augur well.
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